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ū^trum , adv. uter.
I. Introducing an alternative question (direct or indirect), with an beginning the second clause (v. an); in Engl. represented in direct questions simply by the tone of voice, and in indirect questions by whether.
A. In a direct interrogation.
1. With ne,
(α). Attached to the emphatic word of the first clause: “utrum tu masne an femina es?Plaut. Rud. 1, 2, 16: Ba. Simulato me amare. Pi. Utrum ego istoc jocon' assimulem, an serio, id. Bacch. 1, 1, 42: “utrum studione id sibi habet an laudi putat Fore?Ter. Ad. 3, 3, 28: “utrum igitur tandem perspicuisne dubia aperiuntur an dubiis perspicua tolluntur?Cic. Fin. 4, 24, 67: “utrum censes illum tuamne de se orationem libentius auditurum fuisse an meam?id. ib. 2, 19, 60.—
(β). With ne attached to utrum, utrumne ... an (poet. and post-Aug.): utrumne jussi persequemur otium ... An hunc laborem, etc. Hor. Epod. 1, 7: “utrumne salvum eum nolet orator, an? etc.,Quint. 12, 1, 40: “utrumne igitur ego sum, Domiti, exemplo gravis an tu, qui, etc.,Plin. 17, 1, 1, § 4.—
(γ). With ne repeated in place of an (very rare): sed utrum terraene motus, sonitusne inferum Pervasit auris? Att. ap. Prisc. 6, p. 680 P. (Trag. Rel. v. 479 Rib.).—
B. In an indirect interrogation.
1. With ne attached,
(α). To the emphatic word of the first clause: sed utrum strictimne attonsurum dicam esse an per pectinem Nescio, Plaut. Capt. 2, 1, 18: “videndum'st primum utrum eae velintne an non velint,id. Most. 3, 1, 151: “cum animo depugnat suo, Utrum itane esse ma. velit ... an ita potius,id. Trin. 2, 2, 26; id. Ps. 2, 4, 19; id. Bacch. 3, 4, 1: de istac rogas Virgine? Py. Ita, utrum praedicemne an taceam? Ter. Eun. 4, 4, 53: “ea res nunc in discrimine versatur, utrum possitne se parsimonia defendere, an, etc.,Cic. Quint. 30, 92: “videamus, utrum ea fortuitane sint an eo statu, quo, etc.,id. N. D. 2, 34, 87; id. Phil. 2, 12, 30; cf.: “est ... illa distinctio, utrum ... an ... et utrum illudne ... an, etc.,id. Tusc. 4, 27, 59.—
3. With necne (rarely ne) in place of the second clause with an; utrum ... necne, whether ... or not: “jam dudum ego erro, qui quaeram, utrum emeris necne,Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 16, § 35: “di utrum sint necne sint quaeritur,id. N. D. 3, 7, 17: “utrum proelium committi ex usu esset necne,Caes. B. G. 1, 50: deliberent, utrum traiciant legiones necne ... et Brutum arcessant necne, et mihi stipendium dent an decernant, Brut. ap. Cic. Fam. 11, 26; Liv. 39, 48, 2.—So, utrum ... ne: “cum interrogaretur, utrum pluris patrem matremne faceret? matrem inquit,Nep. Iphic. 3, 4.—
II. Introducing a disjunctive question with more than two members, with an beginning each clause after the first.
III. Introducing a single question without an expressed alternative (cf. the similar use of an).
b. In an indirect interrogation: “neque utrum ex hoc saltu damni salvum scio eliciam foras,Plaut. Men. 5, 6, 30: “an hoc dicere audebis, utrum de te aratores, utrum denique Siculi universi bene existiment, ad rem id non pertinere?Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 69, § 167: Nep. Eum. 6, 1.—With the interrog. particle nam: “cum percontatus esset, utrumnam Patris universa classis in portu stare posset,Liv. 37, 17, 10 dub. Weissenb. ad loc. (Hertz and Madv. possetne).
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